Molecular mechanisms underlying microenvironment-regulated tumor malignant progression

• Project/Area Number: 18K19470
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 50:Oncology and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Yamanashi Yuji 東京大学, 医科学研究所, 教授 (40202387)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥6,240,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,440,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000)
• Keywords: 腫瘍悪性化 / 腫瘍

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The fundamental difference between malignant and benign tumors is the presence or absence of invasive phenotype, which is believed to be conferred by accumulation of genetic alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Emerging evidence suggests that these mutations induce tumor invasion not only by tumor cell-intrinsic mechanisms but also by generation of microenvironment that may synergistically accelerate malignant progression. To elucidate the novel mechanisms underlying malignant progression, we studied microenvironment-regulated tumor invasion.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、これまでに報告のない形式の微小環境による浸潤促進機構の解明に取り組むことで、腫瘍悪性化の新たなメカニズムを理解するための手掛かりを得た点、また、これまでにない視点での微小環境を標的とする治療法開発へ向けた基礎的な知見を得た点において意義深い。